alleryStart learning →Positive reinforcement is best described as:
ARemoving a pleasant stimulus to reduce a behaviour
BAdding an unpleasant stimulus to stop a behaviour
CRemoving an annoying stimulus to boost a behaviour
DAdding a desirable stimulus to increase a behaviour
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behaviour
1. In operant conditioning, positive means something is added and negative means something is taken away.
2. Reinforcement always increases a behaviour, while punishment always decreases it.
3. Combining the two, positive reinforcement adds a desirable stimulus in order to increase a behaviour.
4. The chapter calls it the most effective way to teach a person or animal a new behaviour.
_Source: OpenStax Psychology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 6 "Learning", §6.3 Operant Conditioning_
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